APODAL FISHES' OF AMERICA AND EUROPE. 
587 
have a caudal fin, but all probably belong to one species. The speci- 
mens taken by Or. Gilbert (4 to-5J inches in length) are nearly terete, 
the tail sharp, and with no appreciable tin. The rays, it* any exist, can 
not be found even on dissection. There is considerable variation in the 
size of the eye. 
Genus 2.—CHANNOMU1GENA. 
Channo-Mursena Richardson, Voyage Erebus and Terror, 96, 1844 ( Vittata .) 
Type. Ichthyophis vittatus Richardson. 
Etymology : Xdvvq (from to yawn) ; Mursena. 
This genus is near Uropterygius , differing chiefly in the large size of 
the gape. Two species are known, C. bennetti, from Mauritius, and C. 
vittata . 
ANALYSIS OP THE AMERICAN SPECIES OP CHANNOMUR2ENA. 
a. Color pale yellowish-brown with about 15 irregular broad chocolate-colored cross 
bands, varyiug in width, sometimes interrupted, sometimes bifurcated, some of 
them forming complete rings, the pale interspaces usually edged with lighter 
yellowish; fins wanting ; lower jaw projecting ; teeth slender, subequal, directed 
backward; teeth in lower jaw in two series, pointed backwards, the inner teeth 
the largest, and movable ; teeth in upper jaw in three series, the two inner series 
larger and more or less movable ; vomerine teeth in a band, thick-set anteriorly, 
posteriorly biserial ; eye 1£ in snout, situated in the an terior third of gape ; 
snout 4£ in gape; gape 2 in head ; head about 4 in trunk, 2§- in tail.. Vittata, 2. 
2. CHANNOMURiENA VITTATA. 
Raro Parra, Dif. Piezas Hist. Nat., 66, lam. 30, fig. 3, 1780 (Havana). 
Ichthyophis vittatus Richardson, Voy. Sulph., Fish., 114, pi. 53, figs. 7-9, 1844 (locality 
uncertain, said to be from China). 
Nettastoma or Channomurcena vittata Richardson, Voyage Erebus and Terror, Fishes, 
96, 1844 (West Indies). 
Channomurcena vittata Kaup, Apodes, 97, 1856; Poey, Euumeratio, 160, 1875. 
Gynmomur am a vittata Giinther, viii, 134, 1870 (Cuba). 
Channomurcena cubensis Poey, Repert.orio, ii,*266, lam. 3, fig. 6,1867 (Cuba): Poey, 
Synopsis, 428, 1868. 
Habitat: West Iudian fauna. 
Etymology : Vittatus , striped ; but zonatus or fasciatus would have 
been more correct. 
This singular species is known to us only from a single large speci- 
men (24962, U. S. National Museum), 31 £ inches long, sent by Profes- 
sor Felipe Poey, from Havana. It is said to reach a length of 3 feet. 
Its peculiar coloration gives it a remarkably snake-like appearance. 
Genus 3.— ENCHELYCORE. 
? Enchelynassa Kaup, Apodes, 72, 1856 ( bleekeri ). 
Enchelycore Kaup, 1. c. ( euryrhina ). • 
Type: Enchelycore euryrhina Kaup =Mtircena nigricans Bonnaterre. 
Etymology: "EyysXm r, eel; xdpr), girl; the application not evident. 
